BLACK JACK: DEAD MEMORY
Australia, 2007, 100 minutes, Colour.
Colin Friels, Marta Dusseldorp, David Field, Garry Mc Donald, Sophie Lee, Aaron Pederson,
Directed by Peter Andrikidis.
Black Jack: Ace Point Game is the fourth in a series of Channel Ten productions focusing on a detective, Jack Kempson, played by Colin Friels. Jack Kempson is in charge of cold cases and opening up investigations and solving them. Colin Friels is at home in this kind of role after his starring in the series Water Rats. Marta Dusseldorp, who appears in many of the films, is an engaging assistant. David Field is the obtuse police commander. There is an interesting supporting cast of character actors from Australian television.
This is a more personal story of Sam, who had clashed with one of the victims before she drove home, giving Sam something to feel guilty about for many years. Garry Mc Donald has a good and sympathetic role as the victim’s father. David Field has more to do in investigation and clashes with Jack. Sophie Lee is the DNA expert instead of the customary Doris Younane.
There is an immediate suspect for the killings, a further suspect in the fiancee of the victim, and then, with some detective work, quite a twist in the identity of the murderer.
The film, as with a number in the series, was directed by Peter Andrikidis who has worked in television direction since the late 1970s.
1. The entertainment value of this kind of film? The series? Familiarity with the central characters?
2. The Sydney settings, the city itself, landscapes, buildings, streets? The interiors for the police precincts, shops, warehouses, garages? Authentic atmosphere? The score?
3. The team investigating: Jack Kempson in charge, a loner, abrupt, hard on Sam? Sam and her decision to work for the policer? Kavanagh as ambitious, obtuse, lacking imagination? Christine, forensic evidence. The superiors giving consent to Kempson to continue his investigations?
4. A serial killer mystery? The initial lift from Rob and audiences suspecting him? Greg and his role as a ranger in the national park and suspicious? Craig and his relationship with Hannah, the clash with the family? The relationship with Sam?
5. Jack, his usual self, working with Sam, being cut out of the interviews, his saying that she was too connected to the victim and to the family? Her getting him into the course on computers, his learning? His clashes with Kavanagh? Giving him the bits and pieces of information? From his cold case? The arrest of Rob, his not being the killer? Jack and his visit to Hannah’s father? Getting the information, about Craig, Hannah getting the petrol? Their finding the father in the national park, the clairvoyant, the television interview? Jack and his suspicions of Craig, the hostile meetings? The phone calls and pretending to be selling chemicals, getting the lead? Jack and Terv, the information about the phone box? The takeaway meals, Jack being sick, asking for a refund, more meals? His contact with information about the petrol bowsers? The confrontation with Terv, the fight, Sam rescuing him? Terv and his motivations, being ignored by the women, his violence?
6. Sam and her involvement with Hannah, friends, the party, Hannah drinking, accusing Sam of betrayal? Craig lying about her going to see him on the way home? Sam and her neglect of Hannah’s father, going to visit, her police work, his showing her the stars and the telescope, a return visit for dinner? The meetings with Craig, the past relationship, knowing that he loved Hannah? Discovering that Hannah had come to his house, her overhearing the phone message, hostility towards Craig, suspicions? Face-to-face at the funeral?
7. Craig, suspect, relationship with Hannah, her parents suspicions? His assault charge? Animosity towards with Jack? Discussions with Hannah? His not being guilty?
8. Rob, giving Hannah the lift, his fears, the affair with his wife’s sister, not admitting this? The clues from the DNA, washing the dogs, his arrest, admitting the truth, Kavanagh charging him, Kavanagh’s press conference? The fact that he was innocent?
9. Greg, at the National Park, his work, diligent, under suspicion, the petrol bowser? Jack and Sam’s visit, the DNA tree evidence, finding Hannah? Sam’s grief?
10. Denise, DNA work, giving the information to Jack, going out, the irony of Jack and the chat room and called himself Moneyball, the further irony that Denise had called herself Hourglass, the jokey meeting at the end?
11. The funeral, Hannah’s father and mother together, the reasons for their separation, their grief, hopes that Hannah was alive, not having anything to say to each other?
12. A satisfactory murder mystery and picture of detective work?
